I was wondering if any of the other Hokkaido owners in the area would be interested in having a meetup sometime in October. I'm thinking something outdoors would be best weather permitting of course, but just wanted to see how many of you would be interested. I'm generally always free on Wednesdays, but I'm sure a weekend would probably work better for others?

Don't forget Kurasi, @crispy just brought her up here. Pretty sure there is at least one more around here as well. Weekends would work for us though, but would probably need to be towards the end of the month, so the wife and I can make sure we get the day off.

A Hokkaido meet up could be fun. It depends on the day and if I can get a puppy-sitter for Jötunn.

1 Human + 1 HokkaidoRIP Amy (Border Collie)

“Anyone can love a thing because. That's as easy as putting a penny in your pocket.But to love something despite. To know the flaws and love them too. That is rare and pure and perfect.” --Patrick Rothfuss, A Wise Man's Fear

"Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination." --Brandon Sanderson, the First Ideal from The Stormlight Archive.

Umma's servants here. We'd be interested, too. The weekend is better for us, too. We could even host (we live on the west side of Beaverton), although our yard might feel tiny with five crazy Hokkaido running around. Also not 100% sure how Umma will feel about dogs she hasn't met before in her yard (she has met Meitou and they get along well, and she nosed Miko through a fence at Lindsay's last spring the day she went home). We have an outdoor kennel that is almost never used and could use an ex pen to section off an area on our deck, so we can have spaces for two pups who need some alone time (and one of them could be Jotunn!). I'm sure as we get later into the fall the weather gets more and more unpredictable beyond a day or two, but I know we have 10/21 available. A starting point for discussion. :)

weekends do work best, I know I might have a few things going on that weekend. But whatever everyone agrees on I will try to accommodate.

My wife and I at some point could probably host but am currently finishing up the covered patio before the weather turns.

I do not know if any of you take your Hokkaidos to dog parks but the closest one to me is in Ridgefield next to the wildlife refuge that is never crowded. I take Miko twice a week and have never seen more than 3 dogs at a time there in the several months we have been going. A majority of the time we are the only ones there for a while before someone else shows up but we having been going in the evening lately and meet up with a few dogs she likes to play with. It is a smaller park about the size of a football field on a sloping hill with approx. a quarter mile walking path around the perimeter. Water and bags are onsite.

Doesn't matter too much for us, just if it's a weekend the wife and I would need enough time to request the day off. But yeah, if we could do it while the weather is somewhat agreeable would be preferable. Would everyone prefer a hike/park or something more along the lines of a bbq?

Also how does everyone feel about non-hokkaido at the meet up? Pretty sure most of the people here have other dogs, so do we want to bring just our Hokkaido, or would people want to bring other dogs as well?

If it is at a dog park then I likely wouldn't take Meitou since he's an intact male. I've taken him once before and while that turned out fine I'm not sure I want to take that chance.

1 Human + 1 HokkaidoRIP Amy (Border Collie)

“Anyone can love a thing because. That's as easy as putting a penny in your pocket.But to love something despite. To know the flaws and love them too. That is rare and pure and perfect.” --Patrick Rothfuss, A Wise Man's Fear

"Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination." --Brandon Sanderson, the First Ideal from The Stormlight Archive.

I'm James @Krisz:). Not sounding like a dog park is gonna be the best meeting spot though, somebody's backyard will probably be the best spot. How would either the last Sunday of October or first Sunday of November work for those of you who suggested you might be able to host?

I can't meet the last weekend of October. I am attending an event all weekend the 28th-30th of October.

1 Human + 1 HokkaidoRIP Amy (Border Collie)

“Anyone can love a thing because. That's as easy as putting a penny in your pocket.But to love something despite. To know the flaws and love them too. That is rare and pure and perfect.” --Patrick Rothfuss, A Wise Man's Fear

"Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination." --Brandon Sanderson, the First Ideal from The Stormlight Archive.

A dog park environment isn't good for Umma, either. We're available that weekend (10-28/29), but can't host. If we did host (if it was the weekend before) I'd have to request to limit it to Hokkaidos simply because our yard probably couldn't handle everyone's pups. It would get a little cramped and probably crank up everyone's anxiety levels, and no one wants that.

My wife and I would not be opposed to hosting on the Sunday, the 29th of October, in La Center, WA. Weather permitting of course. We were thinking we could host from noon till 4pm. We would like to limit it to Hokkaido's only. Our yard is decent size but 4 or 5 dogs running around going crazy is going to be a handful. We will also provide some food and refreshments :)

Would it make sense to also see if we can do some onleash walks/hikes? I know for Umma that goes a long ways towards her getting comfortable with another dog. Maybe just pick a time and place and whoever can come shows up? We could do a few of those, perhaps, leading up to a bigger thing?

In my experience and experience with Miko, I think introducing dogs on leashes is a bad idea unless you plan on letting them off leash in an enclosed area soon after. I know it is meant well but dogs on leashes tend to stiffen up, pull, stand, etc, limiting what a dog normally does when it interacts with a new dog the first time. If I am taking her on a walk/hike, she is not going to be playing or really interacting with any other dogs. Of course we encounter them, but I shorten up the lead and we all pass on by unless we are close enough she gets a sniff, but normally when she sees another dog on a walk, she will immediately start pulling in that direction. A dog interacting with other dogs will naturally want to go in circles, sniff butts, play, paw each other, etc, and trying to introduce multiple dogs to each other while leashed sounds like it could be chaotic.

Like I said this is just my experience with my dog and previous dogs and everyone's situation is different. When we took Miko to puppy class, and in every class they let all the dogs off leash 3 or 4 times a class for a few minutes each time so they could interact with each other and the other humans. Other than during those 3 or 4 times during class, they did not interact with each other while they were on leash. It worked great for socialization with other dogs and interacting with humans not familiar to them.

That sounds like a good idea, does Sunday (October 8th) at forest park around 11am sound like something that would work for anybody?

That date/time works for us. What part of Forest Park?

The goal isn't necessarily for them to meet face to face for the first time on leash - I do agree that dogs tend to tighten up and react more harshly in that situation. For Umma it's more about getting used to being in the same general area as a new dog. When meeting new dogs and people it makes her more comfortable because she takes her cues on the social situation from us. If her humans are cool walking with and lightly interacting with other humans and dogs in a shared activity, it helps set her at ease.

If only there was one approach that worked for everyone it would be easier, right? :)

I can attend a walk on the 8th dependent on the time. My usual puppy babysitters are busy during a big chunk of Sundays so I may not be able to get someone to watch Jotunn and I don't trust leaving him alone for long yet.

1 Human + 1 HokkaidoRIP Amy (Border Collie)

“Anyone can love a thing because. That's as easy as putting a penny in your pocket.But to love something despite. To know the flaws and love them too. That is rare and pure and perfect.” --Patrick Rothfuss, A Wise Man's Fear

"Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination." --Brandon Sanderson, the First Ideal from The Stormlight Archive.

Another suggestion for a good meet up place would be the WSU campus in Vancouver. I know at least on Sundays there is virtually nobody there, lots of very wide open spaces, lots of trails, and benches to sit on.

“Anyone can love a thing because. That's as easy as putting a penny in your pocket.But to love something despite. To know the flaws and love them too. That is rare and pure and perfect.” --Patrick Rothfuss, A Wise Man's Fear

"Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination." --Brandon Sanderson, the First Ideal from The Stormlight Archive.